Hub cap lock



Oct. 15, 1940. F, SWTH 2,217,775

HUB CAP LOCK Filed March 14, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1' r5172 :75 197124? 0. 19rrzzz' F. A. SMITH HUB CARILOCK Oct. 15, 1940.

Filed March 14, 1952 '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 15, 1940 UNITED. STATES PATENT 'oFFiCEhf- HUB CAP LOCK Frederick A. Smith, North Chicago, 111., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Houdaille-Hershey Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a. corporation of Michigan Application March 14, 1932, Serial No. 598,554 I 4 Claims. (01. 70-458) to a wheel will prevent theft of the wheel and will also eliminate the need of special locking means within the wheel hub;

The object of the invention is to provide improved economicallymanufactured and efficient locking means for cap structures and with the locking means key contr olled.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1, is a diametralsection of the hub structure of a wheel and a spare wheel carrier element; p

Figure 2 is an enlarged inner view of the cap structure; r I

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the cap tructurer i Figure 4 is an inner view of a cap structure showing a modified arrangement of locking means;

Figure 5 is an enlarged section on plane V-V which secure the wheel structure to the vehicle.

Spokes l3-extend from the hub body for supporting the tire receiving rim (not shown) in a manner well understood in the art.

The hub body has the opening I4 in its outer wall through which the wheelsecuringbolts are accessible. A cap or closure structure is usually provided for this opening to close the opening and to form a finished appearance for the hubstructure.

The cap structure shown has the outwardly convex body [5 .and may be formed of sheet metal, the metal along the periphery being crimped and folded to form the seating flange l6 and the ,axially extending-interlocking flange l1. opening [4 and the flange l6 abuts against the outer wall of the hub body around the-opening. A plurality of L-shaped brackets 18 are secured to the flange I! by theirsbases l8 which may be intimatelysecured to the fiangeas by-spot welding. Operable on each bracket is a detent or the pins.

in% bars H) to be shifted'radially'either This flange l1 fits and enters through the wedge bar I9 which at its inner end is guided by ears 20 formed by deflecting'the metal of the bracket and which at its'outer end is guided by passagethrough a slot 2| in the base l8"'of the bracket, the-flange I! having the slots- 22 in 5 alignment-with" the slots through the bracket bases. 'Each bracket' l8 inwardly of'the guide cars 20 thereon has a radially extending slot 23 for receiving the -.shank" of a pin-M' which extends through a hole 23' at the-lowerend'of the corresponding bar l9 in which hole the pin securely fits, the'head of the pin abutting against the inner side of the bracket. The outer ends of the pins extend respectively through cam 'slots' 25 in a circular disc 26,'the disc being held i in place by washers 21 held against the outerf-ace of the'disc as by cotter pins 28 extending through I have shown three-brackets I8 and consequently three camslots equally spaced and upon rotation of the disc 26 the engagement of the pins 24 in the cam slots will cause the lockto locking or unlocking position. 1 The bracket members l8 at their inner ends are deflected outwardly to form circumferentiall extending flanges 29 which together form a cylindrical bearing and support for the inner end ofa lockhousing 30. This housing may be of circular crosssection 'and*has' theouter section 3| of enlarged diameter-whose outer sec- 0. tion-is deflected radially outwardlyto form an abutting flange 32. The housing is 'inserted through an opening'33inthe cap which opening is concentric with the cap axis and th'e'metal of the cap around-the opening'is preferably oil 35 set inwardly to form a -recess34 in which the flange 32 of the lock housing may seat to have its outer face flush with the outer face of the cap'and to make'a neat appearance. The flange 32 is secured to'the'cap as by spot welding and 0 the flanges 29 on the brackets l8 may also be secured to the lock housing as by welding.

Journaled in the housing-isa. cylindrical head35 forminga lock cylinder and having. a

cylindrical stud 36 extending from the innerend thereof concentric therewith, the outer section 31 of this, head which is-within the enlargedpart 3| of the housing 3|] being polygonal, as for ex,- ample hexagonal, for the application of a wrench or other suitable tool by which the headmaybe tu ned. .The inner or bottom wallof the housing 30 has the cylindrical passageway38 through which the lug. 36 extends. The outer end of the lug 36 is slabbed or milled 01? on opposite sides.

so asfto be polygonal and in the cam disc 26 55,

is provided a correspondingly shaped opening 38.

and the metal of the disc around the opening is deflected'" inwardly to form an extended support for the .lug. The end of the lug receives a washe'r40 which is held in place by a cotter pin controls the movement of the locking bars 18.

The. head 35 has the longitudinal bore 43' extending therein from the outer end thereof for journalingla lock barrel 44 which has the keyhole .45 andjthe usual tumbler mechanism (not shown) controlled by the key for. releasing or locking-thebarrel. At the bottom of the cylindrical bore 43 extends a transverse passageway for a lock bolt-41 which has the side slot 48 for receiving the 'cam pin 49 extending from the innerend of the lock barrel at one side of its axis. In the wall of the housing 30 is the hole 50- for receiving theend of the projected bolt 41. ,This hole is positioned to receive the bolt when the cam disc 26 has been rotated to shift the-locking bars Hi to their outer. or looking positions, the locking barsbeing then looked in their locking positions. 'To release the'cam disc for rotation to unlock, the bars IS the key must be inserted in the lock barrel andthe barrel turned to cause withdrawalv of the bolt 4lv from the locking hole 50.

When the locking bars are drawn inwardly their outer ends will be within the'sl'ots 22 in the flange IT of the cap structure and then the cap flange may be inserted through the opening l4 of the hub body l8. After such insertion a tool is applied to the polygonal end of .the head 35 and the head is rotated for operation of the cam disc 26 to shift the lock bars outwardly with their outer ends behind the hub wall which surrounds the-opening M. In order to obtain a wedging engagement the hub wall around the opening I4 is beveled as indicated at 5| and'the outer ends of the bars may also be beveled so that as they are shifted outwardly the engagement of the beveled edges will draw the periphery I6 of the cap securely against thehub to prevent rattling of the cap structure and also to resist the insertion of an implement between the cap and hub body for forcibly removing the cap.

When the locked cap structure is associated with wheels whose securing bolts are on the in-' side of the hub, the locked cap structure will prevent access to such bolts whether the wheel is in service on a vehicle or whether it is mounted on a spare wheel carrier structure. n Figure 1 I haveshown a carrier body 52 secured-as by means of a bracket 53 to a vehicle body. The carrier has screw studs 54 extending therefrom to be in alignment with the bolt holes in the bolt flange ll of the wheel hub and when the wheel is applied to the carrier nuts 55 may be applied to a number of these studs to secure the wheel to. the carrier. ture is locked in place access to the nuts will be prevented and the wheel willbe secured against theft. The locking of the cap to the wheel also prevents theft of the cap. i

To hide the outer end of the locking controlling head 35, and to give a more finished appearance to the cap structure, a sheet metal plug or cup 56 may 'be' provided for insertion in the enlarged end 3! of the housing 38 and to lock the plug its flange may be provided with an Then when the cap strucannular bead 51 for snapping into the annular. -:groove.58 provided in the wall of the housing part 31.

In the modified arrangement of Figures 4' and a number of bracket structures 60 are secured by their 'feet 6| directly to the convex structure the flange 64 has a hole 61 through which the plunger end may extend for engagement with the hub body wall surrounding the.

opening |4.' In each barrel is a spring 68 encircling the plunger and abutting against the collar 66 and theinner end of the barrel, these springs tending to shift the lock plungers outwardly until their abutment collars BSHabut the flange 64.

A cylindrical lock housing 89 extends axially inwardly from the cap structure wall 62 and is secured as by spot welding its outer flange I0 to the cap wall. The housing journals a look cylinder H having the polygonal stud l2 extending inwardly therefrom through the cylindrical passageway 13 in the inner wall of the housing 69' and the outer end of the lock cylinder has the polygonal head '14 for receiving a wrench or other tool. r

The polygonal lug 12 extends through a correspo'ndingly shaped opening in a cam member 16 which may be formed of sheet metal. This cam member abuts the rear end of the housing 69 andis held in place by a ring Washer 11 clamped to the lug 12. The camme'mber is deflected'so that its outer section 16 is in a plane 'in alignment with the lock plungers 65, each lock plunger having a longitudinal slot I8 receiving the cam member section 16'. A pin 19 extends through. the. slotted end of each plunger and through one of the cam slots 80 cut in the outer part 16' of the cam member 16 and with this arrangement turning of the lock cylinder 1| results inradial shift of the locking plungers 65, inward shifting of the plungers being resisted by the springs 68.

To look the plungers. in extended orlooking position the lock bolt 8| is provided in the lock cylinder H and this bolt is shiftable by a lock barrel 82 whose rotation is controlled by a suitable key. The housing 68 has the lock hole 83 which will be in alignment with the bolt 8| when the lock plungers are in outer or locking position and bythen turning the lock the bolt 8| will be projected into the hole Stand-turning of the lock cylinder H and retraction of the lock plungers will be prevented. When the cap is to be withdrawn the key is inserted in the lock and turned to withdraw the bolt 8| from the hole 83 and then turning of the lock cylinder 1| will withdraw the lock plungers to release the cap.

To cover up the outer end of the housing 69 a sheet metal cup 84 is inserted and a spring 85 may be interposed between the cup and the lock cylinder to prevent rattling of the lock cylinder.

In the modified arrangement shown in Figure 6 the lug 12 on the lock cylinder supports a circular disc 86, having slots 81 which are concentric with the disc. Foreach slot there is a looking bar 88 having a pin 89 extending through the slot and the outer end of each bar extends through a guide passage 90 in a bracket 9] secured to the flange 10 of the cap, the flange having opposite each of the passageways 90 a slot 92 for receiving the outer ends of the respective bars. When the lock cylinder H is turned the disc 86 turns therewith and as soon as the ends of the slots 81 reach the pins of the lock bars the lock bars will be canted and shifted either to locking or unlocking position, as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 6.

I have shown practical and eflicient embodiments of my invention but I do not desire to be limited to the exact construction and arrangement shown and described as changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim as follows:

1. In combination with a wheel hub of a closure cap therefor, radially shiftable lock bars mounted on said cap, a cam disc having cam slots engaged by the inner ends of said bars whereby rotation of said disc will shift said bars for interlocking engagement at their outer ends with said hub structure to thereby secure the cap thereto, and key controlled means operable from the exterior of said cap for rotating said disc.

2. In combination, a wheel hub having a cap receiving opening in its outer wall, a cap structure haying a flange for extending through said opening, guide brackets supported on said cap, radially shiftable lock members supported on said brackets, an actuating member having cam slots engaged by the inner ,ends of said locking members, a rotatable member on said cap connected with said actuating member by means of which said actuating member may be turned, and lock mechanism supported by said rotating member whereby it may be secured against rotation after said lock members have been shifted to locking position, said lock members when shifted to locking position engaging behind the structure against removal.

3. In combination a wheel hub having an openouter. wall of the hub to thereby lock the cap members supported on said cap and said cap means for locking said rotational member against rotation after actuation thereby of said actuating member to shift said locking members into locking position.

4. The combination with a wheel hub having anopening in its outer wall, of a hub cap for closing said opening, said cap having an annular flange for extending through said hub opening, radially shiftable locking bars supported on said cap and said flange having slots for the passage therethrough of the outer ends of said bars into engagement with the rear side of the hub wall surrounding the hub opening whereby to lock the cap to the hub, a housing on said cap, a rotatable member journalled in said housing, an actuating member secured to the inner .end of said'rotary member and having cam connection with said. locking bars whereby rotational movement of said actuating member will cause radial shift of said bars, a lock opening in said housing, and a key controlled lock bolt in said rotary member adapted to be projected into said shift of said locking bars into locking position.

5 FREDERICK A. SMITH. 

